SQW has extensive experience of providing public and private sector clients with strategic and tactical advice on physical development proposals. In undertaking this work we draw upon extensive skills in terms of both development economics and town and country planning. Our experience includes advising on spatially-focused transport, housing and economic priorities, particularly those planning to accommodate significant growth.
SQW regularly develops evidence-based strategies for long term economic development which address the delivery challenges of physical development and infrastructure. As result of this work we have acquired very up-to-date knowledge of and insight into potential future trends regarding the planning and funding of infrastructure and residential and commercial development schemes. Another key theme of recent assignments has been the requirement to balance growth or regeneration ambitions with sustainability objectives.
At a tactical level SQW is frequently involved in helping to ‘make the case’ for individual projects, in terms of both obtaining planning permissions and securing public and/or private sector funding contributions. We have accumulated extensive experience of ‘making projects’ happen through a variety of funding routes, including European Regional Development Fund, Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas and Regional Growth Fund funding. For transport infrastructure we have successfully made the case for funding from the Department for Transport and the devolved administrations.
Examples of SQW projects
Redevelopment of Coventry City Centre
SQW was commissioned by Advantage West Midlands (working with Coventry City Council) to provide ongoing consultancy support regarding the proposed £2.2 billion redevelopment of Coventry city centre. The redevelopment will include new retail, leisure and cultural facilities, together with new Grade A office accommodation and improved public realm and public transport provision. SQW’s role focused on providing a full socio-economic impact assessment of the scheme and a Green Book appraisal of the proposed AWM financial contribution to the scheme. We have also recently been involved in making the case for Regional Growth Fund funding for infrastructure and public realm investment at Friargate, which is one of the key development areas in Coventry city centre.
Northstowe Development Study
SQW was commissioned by Gallagher Estates (and English Partnerships) to investigate a range of issues relating to the employment and economic development roles of Northstowe, a major new settlement to the north of Cambridge. Our work considered the likely social characteristics of Northstowe’s population and their implications in terms of employment roles and potential. We considered the potential for the use of employment land at high densities in knowledge-based sectors which would be closely linked to the wider Cambridge cluster. We also examined future prospects for home working.
Cambridgeshire Development Study
The Cambridgeshire Development Study sought to explore the sustainability of different long term spatial options for Cambridgeshire, and it formed an input into the review of the Regional Spatial Strategy. SQW’s inputs focused around two workstreams: economy and demography. In terms of the former, we examined baseline projections, considered the possible impact of known investments (e.g. Cambridgeshire Guided Busway) and we sought to define distinctive and sustainable roles for sub-areas within the county, based around exogenous growth processes. The demography workstream considered population projections, changing demographic structures and the implications for labour supply.
Castle Hill Re-development, Dudley
SQW helped Dudley Council prepare European Regional Development Fund and Regional Growth Fund submissions for the redevelopment of a 25 hectare site at Castle Hill adjacent to Dudley town centre. The redevelopment was leisure focused, and involved re-investment in three existing visitor attractions (including the Black Country Museum and Dudley Zoo) that currently attract around 600,000 visitors per year. The project also involved redevelopment of six hectares of brownfield land and the creation of a platform to attract new commercial leisure operators to the site in order to create a cluster of national importance generating over one million visits each year.
Economic Impact Assessment of Redevelopment in Hereford
SQW undertook an economic impact assessment of a major redevelopment scheme in Hereford that included around 75,000 square metres of mixed use development, including retail, leisure, offices and residential uses on 40 hectares of land near the city centre. The work was undertaken in support of a Compulsory Purchase Order application, and in support for funding applications to the HCA.
Wrexham Industrial Estate Access Road
SQW advised Wrexham County Borough Council on the economic development and regeneration justification for their CPO case regarding a major new piece of road infrastructure that will serve one of the country’s Strategic Employment Sites (as identified in the Wales Spatial Plan). We provided expert witness evidence, and assisted the Council with developing the case to Welsh Assembly Government for the funding of the project. Specifically, in terms of the funding case we provided the Economic Activity and Location Impact Assessment (EALI) in accordance with WelTAG guidance. The Compulsory Purchase Order case and the funding application were both successful, and construction of the scheme is underway.
Identifying Office Occupier Demand in Derby
SQW was appointed to advise Derby City Council on the strengths and weaknesses of Derby as a potential location for private sector office occupiers. The focus of SQW’s input was to assess the competitiveness of Derby’s labour market and skills base, levels of entrepreneurship, higher education and research assets, and the quality of life offering, particularly in respect of cultural and leisure assets. The advice was used to help shape the marketing strategy for attracting office occupiers to Derby, and it was also used as a input to city centre development strategy, in particular on the potential phasing and sequencing of development sites.
Identifying Future Demand for Housing
SQW is currently undertaking future housing land assessments for a number of commercial property developers in different part s of the country including the South East, West Midlands and North West England. The work involves providing Planning Policy Statement 3-compliant evidence on future housing demand using economic and demographic forecasts. In several of the cases SQW will be providing public inquiry evidence during 2011 on matters concerning future housing demand.